This branching plant is often mistaken for a cactus, but it is really in a family all its own (Fouquieriaceae). Ocotillo means "little pine" in Spanish. Ocotillo conserves water by shedding its leaves during dry periods. It grows new leaves after rainfall, sometimes within 48 hours of heavy rain, and retains them as long as it has adequate moisture. In the spring, a cluster of red flowers grows at the tip of each branch. Watch for hummingbirds feeding on those flowers.